Body and Mindfully Healthy

06/05/2026

We are excited to welcome Ellisse Sawyers, LPC to the Body and Mindfully Healthy team!

Ellisse has worked in the mental health field since 2017 and brings experience serving children, adolescents, adults, and families. Prior to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor, she worked as both an elementary and middle school counselor, providing her with valuable insight into the challenges faced by children, teens, parents, and educators.

In addition to providing counseling services, Ellisse is a Virginia Board of Counseling Approved Supervisor and is currently accepting Residents in Counseling seeking clinical supervision. She is passionate about supporting new clinicians as they develop confidence, strengthen their clinical skills, and grow into their professional identities.

Ellisse approaches both counseling and supervision from a person-centered, strengths-based perspective. She believes that every individual possesses unique strengths and the capacity for growth when provided with a supportive and collaborative environment.

She has experience working with:
✔️ Anxiety
✔️ Depression
✔️ OCD
✔️ Trauma
✔️ Eating Disorders
✔️ Behavioral Concerns
✔️ Personality Disorders
✔️ Life Transitions

While we await insurance credentialing, Ellisse is currently accepting self-pay counseling clients in our Galax office and via telehealth. This can be a great option for individuals seeking privacy, flexibility, and timely access to care without waiting for insurance approvals.

Contact us to learn more about counseling services or supervision opportunities.

Please join us in welcoming Ellisse to the Body and Mindfully Healthy team!

06/04/2026

The mountains that shape Appalachia are strong. The people who call them home are strong too. But strength alone cannot solve a mental health crisis.

Research continues to show that su***de rates in many Appalachian communities are higher than the national average, while access to mental health care providers is significantly lower.

Across Appalachia, factors such as economic hardship, geographic isolation, transportation barriers, substance use disorders, and shortages of behavioral health professionals create a perfect storm that leaves too many people struggling without support. Recent research in West Virginia found that higher levels of socioeconomic deprivation were consistently associated with higher su***de rates.

These are our neighbors. Our friends. Our family members.

If we're serious about improving health in Appalachia, we must invest in mental health services, expand access to care in rural communities, reduce stigma around seeking help, and make sure that no one has to fight their hardest battles alone.

The conversation about mental health in Appalachia is about recognizing a challenge and working together to address it.

You matter. Your story matters. And help is available.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as such, we'd like to take a moment to encourage all of you to reach out and check in on a loved one, or ask for help if you need it.

There is no shame in needing help. We are creatures built upon community, and we need each other to survive. We are not meant to go through this life by ourselves. It's okay to lean on others when times are tough.

Take care of each other 🤍

05/13/2026

Save the date!!! We are excited to announce that Temple Grandin, Ph.D. will visit Virginia Tech for a special event on Friday, September 25, 2026. More information will be shared at a later date.

Dr. Grandin is a globally recognized autism advocate, bestselling author, and leading expert in animal behavior and welfare. As a professor at Colorado State University, her work has transformed livestock handling practices worldwide and advanced conversations surrounding neurodiversity, innovation, and humane animal care.

The event will feature two presentations:
1:00 PM – Humane Livestock Handling
5:00 PM – Great Minds Are Not All the Same
Book sales and signing opportunities will follow each presentation.

This event is co-sponsored by The Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education, The School of Animal Sciences, The Department of Psychology, and the VT Center for Autism Research.

05/11/2026

✨ Please help us welcome Tori Smith, Resident in Counseling, to Body and Mindfully Healthy! ✨

Tori will officially begin seeing clients in our Radford office and via telehealth starting May 16, 2026, and is accepting new clients immediately.

Tori is a compassionate and client-centered clinician who is passionate about helping individuals feel supported, understood, and empowered throughout their mental health journey. She values creating a warm and welcoming environment where clients can safely process life’s challenges, strengthen coping skills, and move toward growth at their own pace.

She has experience working with diverse populations across multiple levels of care and believes deeply in meeting people where they are emotionally, personally, and culturally. Her professional background in community-based work prior to outpatient counseling has given her a strong understanding of the importance of connection, authenticity, and individualized care.

Tori earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Bluefield University and her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lindsey Wilson College. She will be practicing under the clinical supervision of Rebecca Worrell.

Originally from the Radford area, Tori is especially excited to serve within the community that helped shape her passion for helping others.

Outside of counseling, she enjoys spending time with family, loving on her two fur babies, and relaxing with a good book or documentary.

We are so excited to have Tori as part of the Body and Mindfully Healthy team and cannot wait to watch the positive impact she will make in our community. 💚

To schedule with Tori:
📞 Call Tori Directly: (540) 200-8139
🌐 Visit: Body and Mindfully Healthy

05/01/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month 🌿
A national observance dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, promoting well-being, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health conditions.
Mental health is an essential part of overall health. It affects how we think, feel, and function in daily life, and it deserves the same attention and care as physical health.
This month also highlights the importance of access to care, early support, and creating environments where people feel safe to speak about their mental health without fear or judgment.
By increasing awareness, we can support understanding, encourage early intervention, and strengthen community well-being 🤍

If you’d like to learn more or explore our therapy and wellness services, we invite you to visit our website:
https://www.bodyandmindfullyhealthy.com/therapy-wellness-services

04/27/2026

You’ve completed EMDR training… but no one talks about what comes next. The real growth in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) happens in consultation. That’s where you move from:

“Am I doing this right?” to confident, structured, trauma-informed clinical work

We're expanding EMDR consultation services through Body and Mindfully Healthy to support therapists across Virginia and beyond.
As an EMDRIA Consultant-in-Training, we offer both individual and group consultation designed to help you:

✔ Strengthen your EMDR skills
✔ Improve case conceptualization
✔ Navigate complex trauma + dissociation
✔ Build confidence in your clinical decision-making
✔ Work toward EMDR certification

Currently offering:
Monthly EMDR consultation groups (via Google Meet)
Individual consultation sessions
Certification pathway support

Spots are intentionally limited to maintain quality and connection.

If you’re ready to deepen your EMDR practice, we’d love to support you.

Learn more + join a consultation group:
https://www.bodyandmindfullyhealthy.com/emdr-consultation

04/26/2026

👏👏👏👏

04/21/2026

Why does healing sometimes feel like you’re not moving forward even when you’ve done the work?
You’re safe now… so why does your body still feel on edge?
Why does a small change in someone’s tone make you anxious?
Why do you shut down during conflict, even when you want to communicate?
Trauma doesn’t just live in the past—it lives in the nervous system.
In this blog, we break down how survival responses like fight, flight, or freeze can show up in everyday moments, why your reactions may not match your present reality, and what it actually means to begin healing at the level of the body.
Read more at https://www.bodyandmindfullyhealthy.com/post/how-trauma-impacts-nervous-system-recovery

03/31/2026

Understanding emotional dynamics in relationships is crucial. This post explores the concepts of pseudo-hostility and pseudo-mutuality, examining how they can manifest as forms of emotional abuse.

Read more here: https://www.bodyandmindfullyhealthy.com/post/pseudo-hostility-pseudo-mutuality-as-emotional-abuse

03/28/2026

We know news of ABC’s decision to cancel the newest season of “The Bachelorette” after the release of domestic violence video footage has been widespread during the past week. To all victims and survivors who may have been affected by seeing this footage, as well as those who saw themselves in it and realized they need support: The Hotline is here for you.

We are proud to support victims, survivors and their loved ones directly with our 24/7 services and provide training, guidance and resources to those looking to learn more about domestic violence, raise awareness, and strengthen access to life-saving support.

Ten million people experience domestic violence every year. No one should feel as if they are alone, and all those who choose to cause harm should be held accountable — regardless of who they are or how many followers they have.